David Bowie On Countdown

A lovely man who just happened to be a musical genius is how Australian music legend Molly Meldrum remembers the "revolutionary" David Bowie.

Meldrum, describes Bowie as a revolutionary who changed the face of music, but also an utter gentleman.

In an article for News Corp Australia, Meldrum says he hosted a party for Bowie at his home in 1983, and when Meldrum's home burned down a year later Bowie invited him to stay at his house in Switzerland.

"And after my accident a few years ago there was the sweetest note from David when I finally woke up," he wrote.

"But that's what he was like, just a really lovely man who happened to be a musical genius as well."

Bowie brought four of his 14 world tours to Australia and New Zealand, the first in 1978 and the last in 2004.

He spent much of the 1980s living and recording in Australia, owning a flat in Sydney's Elizabeth Bay from 1983 until 1992.

He also made two film clips in Australia. China Girl was filmed mostly around Sydney's Chinatown, while Let's Dance captured everything from locals drinking at a country pub to the outback, bush, beach and Sydney Harbour.